Colorado Water Conversation Board Division of Water Resources

• Year: 2001
• Title: South Platte Decision Support System Feasibility Study
• Author: Brown and Caldwell Camp Dresser & Mckee Inc Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engneers Inc Riverside Technology, Inc
• Description: South Platte Decision Support System Feasibility Study - Final Report
• Publications - Doc Type: Other

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
State agencies, water providers and water users are constantly evaluating management of water
resources in response to increases in population and demand, droughts, endangered species
issues and reductions in Federal water program funding. A comprehensive decision support
system (DSS) is being developed for each of the major river basins in Colorado. These will
provide State of Colorado agencies, water users and managers a better means for organizing,
accessing and evaluating a wide range of information and alternative strategies for managing
their water resources. This, in turn, will help DSS users make informed decisions regarding
major water issues and policy positions.
This report presents the results of an investigation to determine the feasibility of developing a
decision support system for the South Platte and North Platte River basins in Colorado. This
feasibility study was done for both the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and the
Division of Water Resources (DWR).
The South Platte Decision Support System ( SPDSS) will encompass the entire South Platte and
North Platte River basins. The South Platte River basin study area includes all of Water Division
1 except Water Districts 49 and 65 that discharge to the Republican River drainage and Water
Districts 48 and 76 that discharge to the North Platte River. The North Platte River basin study
area includes Water District 47 in Water Division 6 and Water Districts 48 and 76 in Water
Division 1. The level of application for the SPDSS will vary between geographic regions from
one alternative to the next, due to differences in data and analysis tool needs.
The SPDSS will consist of data that characterize the hydrologic and hydrogeologic features of
these basins and tools that provide enhanced water administration and water resource planning
capabilities. The purpose of the SPDSS is to assist water users and State officials in developing,
managing and preserving the water resources of the North Platte and South Platte River basins
for the people of Colorado.
The SPDSS will be the third decision support system developed by the State of Colorado. A
decision support system for the Colorado River basin (CRDSS) has been developed and is
currently being used in that basin for water management and development purposes by both state
agencies as well as local and federal entities. For example, the surface water data sets and
associated surface water model (StateMod) are being used by the CWCB to determine sources of
water supply for meeting Colorado's requirements for the Endangered Species Recovery
Program in the Colorado River basin and DWR is using the administration tool to help in the
administration of the Colorado River. A decision support system for the Rio Grande basin
(RGDSS) is nearing completion. Applications of that system are expected to include the
development of rules and regulations for new well development in the San Luis Valley as well as
analysis of the Closed Basin Project and Interstate Compact operations.
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October 31, 2001